ALISA PALMER

An internationally trained, award-winning theatre director, playwright, and theatre producer, Alisa is the artistic director and director of the Acting, Directing and Artistic Residency Programs at the National Theatre School of Canada (NTS). 

With a career spanning over 20 years, Alisa’s work crosses genres, including the classics, contemporary plays, creation projects, musicals and operas, all characterized by vivid performances, a bold use of music, powerful visuals and a passionate commitment to the body politic. 

Alisa is the recipient of numerous awards both in Canada and internationally, including the Award of Excellence in the Arts from her home province of New Brunswick and a three-time finalist for the Siminovitch Prize. She has directed productions in most theatres across Canada including eight seasons at the Shaw Festival and three seasons at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival where she directed the hit play Hamlet-911. 

She is the former artistic director of Nightwood Theatre where she commissioned and produced landmark productions including Harlem Duet by Djanet Sears, and Smudge by Alex Bulmer, Canada’s first professional play by a visually impaired playwright, Alisa was also resident director for the world premiere of The Lord of the Rings for Mirvish Entertainment.

A passionate supporter of Canada’s theatre community, Alisa has served on the Toronto Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, the Conseils des arts du Montreal and most recently was chair of the Canadian Arts Summit from 2020 - 2022. Alisa continues to explore new projects via Vita Brevis Arts. She is Executive Artistic Director of the National Theatre School of Canada, Canada’s only arts school training in both official languages.